Coin counter



s 4 O O f 2 W I W 5 ULLMAN COIN COUNTER Filed March 14,. 1958 ll m" "'lni' Sept. 13, 1960 United States Patent 2,952,108 COIN COUNTER Seymour Ullman, Queens, N.Y. (8026 254th St., Floral Park, N.Y.)

Filed Mar. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 721,596 3 Claims; 01. 53-454 1 This invention relates generally to the field of coin Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation as seen from the plane 22 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 33 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View as seen from the plane 4-4 on Figure 3.

counters or coin packers which are adapted to be placed In the prior art devices, a base or other supporting means is normally provided with an elongated groove and an arcuate or circular cross section adapted to engage the coins at points below the center thereof. One end of the groove is normally exposed, and the otheris provided with a lip which is adapted to fit within the paper tube in which the coins are ultimately packed. Difiiculty has been encountered in pushing a stack of coins into the paper tube, owing to the fact that the internal diameter of the tube is very close to the external diameter of the coins, and as the coins are moved axially friction existing between the edge surfaces of the coins and the inner surface of the tube causes the tube to crumble, thus preventing the entrance of the coins thereinto.

In an attempt to eliminate this difliculty, it is known in the prior art to enlarge the radius of curvature of the groove toward a point where the same is substantially greater than the diameter of the coins to be stacked therein, so that as the same are moved toward the tube, certain parts of the stack will become disposed at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the stack just prior to entrance into the tube. Difficulty has been experienced with such construction owing to the lack of control over the stack as the same is being moved, and the need for delicate manipulation.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved stacking and packing device, in which the movement of the coins into the paper tube is greatly simplified.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described which will automatically stack successive coins in relatively staggered relation with respect to the principal stack axis, so that the stack will have a uniform cross section of generally elliptical con figuration.

, Another object of the invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described, and possessed of the above advantage, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

On the drawing, to which reference will he made in the specification, similar reference characters have been em- Figure 5 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that seen on Figure 4, but showing a stack of coins about to'be inserted into a paper cylinder.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10 comprises broadly: a supporting frame element 11, and a plurality of coin counting and stacking elements 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The device 10 is preferably molded from suitable planar synthetic resinous material, or, if desired, may be made from a single metallic stamping.

The supporting frame element 11 includes a lower wall 16, an inner wall 17, outer. wall 19 and a top wall 20 from which the elements 12-15 depend.

The coin counting and stacking elements 12-15, clusive, are substantially Similar, although of varying sizes as is known in the art, and accordingly, a detail description of the element 12 will suffice to describe the remaining elements, thereby avoiding needless repetition.

The counting and stacking element 12 includes a coin holding body 22 forming an elongated groove on the inner surface 23' thereof. The inner end 25 of the groove terminates in an angularly disposed wall 26, the plane of which is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the principal axis of the groove, as best seen on Figures 3 and 4 in the drawing. The outer end terminates in a lip member 28 having a left lip edge 29, a right lip edge 30 and a center lip edge 31. As best seen on Figure 4, the right lip edge 30 projects past the left lip edge 29 while the center lip edge 31 is inclined at an angle sub stantially equal to the angle between the principal groove axis and the wall 26.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that the cross sectional shape of the groove formed by the inner surface 23, as taken perpendicular to the principal axis of the groove, is elliptical, rather than arcuate or circular to correspond to the elliptical cross sectional shape presented by the stack of coins generally indicated by reference character 32. The ellipse does not extend upwardly past the center of the stack axis to avoid the possibility of binding the individual coins, but if desired the groove may be deepened by merely forming straight sided walls 35 and 36 at points above the line of center.

As best seen on Figure 3, it will best be observed that the axis of the groove defined by the inner surface 23 is tilted at a slight angle with respect to the plane of the frame element 11 to prevent the stacked coins from toppling during the stacking operation. The coins are maintained in such condition at the time of engagement of the tube 38 on the lip member 28 so that they may be quickly and conveniently slid into the confines of the tube. During such movement, they are maintained at the desired angle until fully seated within the tube without relative movement of the tube or groove, it being necessary only to press with the fingers against the last coin in the stack 32 until the same is seated within the tube.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in coin stacking and packing devices, in which there is provided a means for maintaining the stack throughout its entire length in staggered relation so that the same may be conveniently slid into the confines of the tube without spilling or distorting the tube.

The device may be manufactured at a cost comparable with existing prior art devices, and may be employed without resort to any unusual skills.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

1. In a coin counting device for use in the wrapping of a predetermined number of uniformly sized coins having a support element and at least one coin stacking element, the improvement comprising: said stacking element having a principal axis and having a first closed end and a second end terminating in a lip member; means for supporting said stacking element in a substantially horizontal position; said closed end including an end wall, the plane oftwhich is disposed at an angle less than a right angle with respect to said principal axis; said stacking element having a cross sectional shape of such curvature as to contact with coins at points below their centers, and being of a horizontal width at the line of centers of said coins which is substantially .less than twice the vertical depth of stacking element as'rneasured from the line of centers of said coin to the lowermost point thereof.

2. In a coin counting device for use in the wrapping of a predetermined number of uniformly sized coins having a support element and at least one coin stacking element, the improvement comprising: said stacking element having a principal axis and having a first closed end and a second end terminating in a lip member; means for supporting said stacking element in a substantially horizontal position; said closed end including an end wall, the plane of which is disposed at an angle less than a 4 right angle with respect to said principal axis; said stacking element having a cross sectional shape of such curvature as to contact with coins at points below their centers, and being of a horizontal width at the line of centers of said coins which is substantially less than the diameter of said coins.

3. In a coin countingdevice for use in the wrapping of a predetermined number of uniformly sized coins having a support element and at least one coin stacking element, the improvement comprising: said stacking element having a principal'axis and having a first closed end and a second end terminating in a lip memberjmea ns for supporting said stacking element in a substantially horizontal position; said closed end including an end wall, the plane of which is disposed at an angle less than a right angle with respect to said principal axis; said stacking element having a cross sectional shape of such curvature as to contact with coins at points below their center, and being of a generally semi-elliptical shape" and being of a horizontal width at the line of centers which'is substantially less than the diameter of said coins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,025,228 Abbott May 7, 1912 1,171,409 Bisland Feb. 15, 1916 2,215,858 I Slootsky Sept. 24, 1940 2,355,201 Blackstone Aug. 8, 1944 2,620,109 Smathers Dec. 2, 1952 

